An Illustrated Guide to Veterinary Medical Terminology Ch 8

cardi/o

combining form for heart

pericardium

a double-walled membrane surrounding the heart

fibrous pericardium

the tough external layer

epicardium

external layer of the heart; also known as the visceral layer of pericardium

myocardium

middle and thickest layer of the heart; the actual heart muscle

endocardium

inner layer of the heart; lines the heart chambers and valves

coronary arteries

arteries that serve the heart

coron/o

combining form meaning crown

coronary veins

remove waste products from the myocardium

ischemia

deficiency in the blood supply to an area

atria

craniodorsal chambers of the heart

atri/o

combining form for atria

interatrial septum

separates the left and right atria

ventricles

caudoventral chambers of the heart

ventricul/o

combining form for ventricles

interventricular septum

separates the left and right ventricles

apex

narrow tip of the heart

valve

is a membranous fold

valv/o or valvul/o

combining form for valve

right atrioventricular valve

or right AV valve. this valve controls the opening between the right atrium and right ventricle. it also is called the tricuspid valve because it has 3 points, or cusps

pulmonary semilunar valve

or pulmonary valve. the valve is located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery and controls blood entering the lungs. semilunar means half-moon, and this valve is shaped like a half-moon

left atriventricular valve

or left AV valve. this valve controls the opening between the left atrium and left ventricle. it also is called the mitral valve or bicuspid because it has two points

aortic semilunar valve

or aortic valve. the aortic valve is located between the left ventriclue and the aorta and controls blood entering the arterial system. it also is half-moon shaped

cardiac output

the volume of blood pumped by the heart per unit time

stroke volume

the volume of blood ejected from the ventricles during each heartbeat

purkinje fibers

establishes the basic rhythm of the heart and is called the pacemaker of the heart

atrial systole

atrial contraction

inotrophy

the term meaning force of contraction

ventricular systole

ventricular contraction

sinus rhythm

normal heart rhythm

arrhythmia and dysrhythmia

abnormal rhythm

electrocardiogram

the record of the electrical activity of the myocardium

electrocardiography

the process of recording the electrical activity of the myocardium

auscultation

the act of listening to body sounds and usually involves the use of a stethoscope

stethoscope

an instrument used to listen

palpitation

heartbeat sensations that feel like pounding with or without irregularity in rhythm

fibrillation

rapid, random, and ineffective heart contractions

flutter

cardiac arrhythmia in which atrial contractions are rapid but regular

bradycardia

abnormally slow heartbeat

tachycardia

abnormally fast heartbeat

paroxysm

sudden convulsion or spasm

normal sinus arrhythmia

irregular heart rhythm resulting from variation in vagal nerve tone as a result of respiration (a nonpathologic arrhythmia)

asystole

without contraction or lack of heart activity; flat line on an ECG

syncope

temporary suspension of respiration and circulation

gallop

low-frequency vibrations occurring during early diastole and late diastole

heart murmur

an abnormal sound associated with the turbulent flow of blood

holosystolic or pansystolic

occur during the entire ventricular contraction phase

stenosis

narrowing

crescendo murmurs

abnormal swooshing cardiac sounds that progressively increase loudness

decrescendo murmurs

progressively decrease in loudness

angi/o and vas/o

combining forms for vessel

lumen

opening in a vessel through which fluid flows

vasoconstrictors

things that narrow a vessel's diameter

hilus

the depression where vessels enter an organ

arteri/o

combining form for artery

aorta

the main trunk of the arterial system that begins from the left ventricle of the heart

aort/o

combining form for aorta

celiac artery

supplies the liver, stomach, and spleen

celi/o

combining form for belly

renal arteries

supplies the kidneys

ovarian (or testicular) arteries

supply the ovaries (or testicles)

subclavian artery

located under the collarbone

arterioles

smaller branches of arteries

arter/i

combining form meaning vessel that carries blood away from the heart

capillaries

single-cell thick vessels that connect the arterial and venous systems

perfusion

blood flow through tissues

capillary refill time

an indicator of perfusion

venules

tiny blood vessels that carry blood to the veins

veins

a low-pressure collecting system that returns blood to the heart

ven/o and phleb/o

combining forms for vein

jugular vein

drains the head and neck area

femoral veins

drain the legs

renal veins

drain the kidneys

azygous vein

a single vein that drains the chest wall and adjacent structures and is named based on the fact that it is not paired in the body

blood pressure

the tension exerted by blood on the arterial walls

viscosity

resistance to flow

pulse

rhythmic expansion and contraction of an artery produced by pressure

sphygmomanometer

measures the amount of pressure exerted against the walls of the vessels

sphygm/o

combining form for pulse

man/o

combining form for pressure

systolic pressure

occurs when the ventricles contract and is highest toward the end of the stroke output of the left ventricle

diastolic pressure

occurs when the ventricles relax and is lowest late in ventricular dilation

tensi/o

combining form meaning pressure or tension and is used when describing blood pressure

hypertension

high blood pressure

hypotension

low blood pressure

antihypertensives

drugs used to lower blood pressure

angiocardiography

radiographic study of the blood vessels and heart using contrast material. the resulting film is an angiocardiogram

angiography

radiographic study of the blood vessels following injection of radiopaque material. an angiogram is the film produced from this radiographic procedure

cardiac catheterization

radiographic study in which a catheter is passed into a blood vessel and is guided into the heart to detect pressures and patterns of blood flow

echocardiography

process of evaluating the heart structures using sound waves. Doppler echocardiography used the differences in frequency between sound and waves and their echoes to measure the velocity of a moving object

ech/o

combining form for sound

holter monitor

24-hour ECG that records the heart rates and rhythms onto a specialized tape recorder

radiography

procedure of imaging objects by exposing sensitized film to x-rays. the resulting film is called a radiograph

tourniquet

constricting band applied to a limb to control bleeding or to assist in drawing blood

aneurysm

localized balloon-like enlargement of an artery

angiopathy

disease of vessels

aortic insufficiency

inability of the aortic valve to perform at the proper levels, which result in blood flowing back into the left ventricle from the aorta

atherosclerosis

hardening and narrowing of the arteries. this may be caused by plaque (black), which is a patch or raised area.

ather/o

combining form for plaque or fatty substance

atrial septal defect

opening in the wall dividing the right and left atria that may allow blood to move from the high-pressure atrium to the low-pressure atrium

cardiac tamponade

compression of the heart due to fluid or blood collection in the pericardial sac

cardiomegaly

heart enlargement

cardiomyopathy

disease of heart muscle. may be further classified as hypertrophic which is excessive growth of the left ventricle, or dilated which is characterized by a thin-walled left ventricle. dilated cardiomyopathy also is known as congestive

carditis

inflammation of the heart

congestive heart failure

syndrome that reflects insufficient cardiac output to meet the body's needs; abbreviated CHF; congestion which is accumulation of fluid, and edema which is accumulation of fluid in the intercellular spaces may be seen with CHF. ascites is fluid accumulati

pleural effusion

abnormal fluid accumulation between the layers of the membrane encasing the lungs and is seen in cats secondary to CHF. fluid accumulation can be relieved with the use of diuretics, which are substances that increase urine excretion

cor pulmonale

alterations in the structure or function of the right ventricle caused by pulmonary hypertension; also called pulmonary heart disease

pulmon/o

combining form for lung

dirofilariosis

heartworm infection

microfilariae

tiny larvae produced from mature heartworms

caval syndrome

obstruction of blood flow from the vena cava caused by heavy heartworm infestation

embolus

foreign object (e.g. a clot, air, or tissue) that is circulating in blood

embolism

blockage of a vessel by a foreign object

endocarditis

inflammation of the endocardium and sometimes the heart valves.

heart block

interference with the electrical conduction of the heart. may be partial or complete and is graded in degrees based on the characteristics of the block

hemangioma

benign tumor comprised of newly formed blood vessels

hematoma

collection of blood

hypercapnia

above-normal levels of carbon dioxide, resulting in reduced levels of oxygen and may cause a bluish tinge to the skin and mucous membranes

hypocapnia

below-normal levels of carbon dioxide

hypoxia

below-normal levels of oxygen

infarct

localized area of necrosis caused by in interrupted blood supply

mitral stenosis

narrowing of the opening of the mitral valve (which affects the opening and closing of the mitral valve)

mitral valve insufficiency

inability of the left atrioventricular valve to perform at the proper level; may be caused by fibrosis, endocarditis, or other conditions that occur in the mitral valve area

mitral valve prolapse

abnormal protrusion of the left atriventricular valve that results in incomplete closure of the valve

occlusion

blockage of a vessel or passageway in the body

patent ductus arteriosius

persistence of the fetal communication between the left pulmonary artery and aorta that should close shortly after birth; abbreviated PDA. may cause overloading of the left ventricle which may lead to left ventricle failure. a continuous heart murmur and

pericarditis

inflammation of the pericardium

pulmonic stenosis

narrowing of the opening and valvular area between the pulmonary artery and right ventricle

regurgitaion

backflow; used to describe backflow of blood caused by imperfect closure of heart valves

shock

inadequate tissue perfusion. there are different types of shock, by one type occurs after cardiac arrest or cessation of heartbeat. treatment of shock includes resuscitation

tetraology or Fallot

congenital cyanotic cardiac condition that classically has four anatomical defects in the heart: pulmonary stenosis, ventricular septal defect, overriding aorta, and right ventricular hypertrophy

thromboembolism

the blocking of a blood vessel by a part that has broken away from a blood clot at its site of formation

thrombus

blood clot attached to the interior wall of a vein or artery

thrombosis

an abnormal condition in which a blood clot develops in a blood vessel

anticoagulants

substances that prevent blood clotting

vasculitis

inflammation of a blood or lymph vessel

ventricular septal defect

opening in the wall dividing the right and left ventricles that may allow blood to shunt from the right ventricle to the left ventricle without becoming oxygenated

shunt

means to bypass or divert

angioplasty

surgical repair of blood or lymph vessels

angiorrhapy

suture of a vessel

arterioectomy

surgical removal of part of a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart

arteriotomy

incision of a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart

central venous pressure

tension exerted by blood in the cranial vena cava

defirillation

use of electrical shock to restore the normal heart rhythm

hemostasis

control or stoppage of bleeding

stent

small expander implanted in a blood vessel to prevent it from collapsing

transfusion

introduction of whole blood or blood components into the bloodstream of the recipient

valvotomy

surgical incision into a valve or membranous flap

tricuspid valve

the right atrioventricular valve

pericardium

the double-walled membranous sac enclosing the heart is the pericardium

septum

A partition or wall separating something

infract

A localized area of necrosis caused by interrupted blood supply

transfusion

introduction of whole blood or blood components into the bloodstream of the recipient

shunt

a bypass or diversion

Cor

heart

cardiomyopathy

disease of heart muscle

cardiomegaly

heart enlargement

perfusion

blood flow through tissue

pulmonary arteries

the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs

systole

the contraction phase of the heartbeat

iatrogenic

a disease produced by treatment

epicardium

the term for the external layer of the heart

coronary arteries

the myocardium receives its blood supply

mitral valve

heart valve known as the biscupid valve

right ventricle

heart chamber that pumps blood to the lungs

heart murmur

abnormal sound associated with the turbulent flow of blood

constriction

narrowing of a vessel diameter

vasculitis

inflammation of a blood or lymph vessel

dilation

widening of a vessel diameter

hematoma

collection of blood

capillaries

single-cell-thick vessels that connect the arterial and venous systems

veins

vessels that return blood to the heart

arteries

vessels that carry blood away from the heart

porphylaxis

prevention